TORONTO, April 21, 2015 /CNW/ - Great Gulf and Waterfront Toronto are proud to announce the official groundbreaking of Monde, celebrated architect Moshe Safdie's first residential building in Canada since Habitat '67 in Montreal, and one of the first residential buildings to break ground as part of the emerging waterfront neighbourhood of East Bayfront.

Located on Queens Quay East, beside Sherbourne Common, and across the street from George Brown College, Corus Quay and Canada's Sugar Beach, Monde's design concept is centered on the idea of 'Gardens in the Sky'. The forty-four storey condominium building will feature stunning views of Lake Ontario.

"We believe that Monde will represent an architectural centrepiece within the East Bayfront neighbourhood," said Christopher Wein, President Great Gulf Residential. "Monde will become one of Toronto's most sought after locations, given the work already done by Waterfront Toronto in building high-quality parks and public spaces, the ultra-high-speed broadband network for residents and the exciting commercial and employment opportunities in the area."

"Monde is a landmark building for the East Bayfront," said Toronto Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell. "Moshe Safdie and Great Gulf have provided leadership on design excellence that builds on the strong work of Waterfront Toronto in the precinct. The development of this new neighbourhood into a healthy community with a diversity of uses is taking a great step forward today."

"Monde is a beautiful addition to the waterfront, and to the East Bayfront community," said John Campbell, President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. "Not only does the neighbourhood get a building designed by one of Canada's most celebrated architects, but the investment in Monde by Great Gulf is a sign of confidence in the waterfront and a great return on the investment Waterfront Toronto has put into flood protection, public realm and future-ready infrastructure."

World-renowned architect and 2015 AIA Gold Medal recipient, Moshe Safdie returned to Canada with a vision to create an iconic residential project on Toronto's waterfront that will offer timeless elegance and inject life to the waterfront skyline. "I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to Toronto's East Bayfront, my first residential project in Canada since Habitat at the Montreal's Expo '67," Safdie said.

In working with Waterfront Toronto, Monde is helping to reach a higher sustainability standard on the waterfront. The forty-four storey condominium complies with Waterfront Toronto's Mandatory Green Building Requirements, including LEED Gold certification. Monde also meets Waterfront Toronto's design guidelines, which emphasizes excellent design that creates a great quality of place. Monde's design, for example, creates an activated retail space on ground-level on the west side that compliments the adjacent Sherbourne Common – Waterfront Toronto's award-winning park. Monde's residents will also benefit from the waterfront-wide ultra-high-speed broadband network, which will offer one of Canada's fastest network speeds at very competitive prices.

About Great Gulf

Established in 1975, the Great Gulf Group of companies including Great Gulf, Ashton Woods Homes, First Gulf Corporation, Tucker HiRise Construction, H+ME Technology and Taboo Resort Golf and Spa, is one of North America's premier real estate organizations. With major projects in Canada and the United States, the company's fully-integrated activities span the entire real estate spectrum.

About Waterfront Toronto

The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto's waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization. Toronto's new waterfront communities will use technology to enhance quality of life and create economic opportunity for the citizens of Toronto, helping to keep the city competitive with major urban centres around the world for business, jobs and talent.